Abstract EANA2026-249

With an increase in future space flight, lunar and interplanetary colonization becomes a promising research target. To reduce costs and dependence on Earth-based resupply, sustainability of space missions will be necessary. Utilization of filamentous fungi is something to consider, as they are a regrowing source which is suitable for biotechnological applications. Research to date shows, that Penicillium simplicissimum is able to leach multiple metals from lunar regolith via fungal biomining. Implying the possibility to serve as a viable and safe option for In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) (Figueira et al. 2025).

This study introduces an effective screening process to identify promising candidates for biomining among the environmental isolates and lays the groundwork for the selection of high performing strains for possible future ISRU technologies.

We were able to show that Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus carbonarius are able to extract metals from Lunar Highland Simulant-1 (LHS-1). Due to these results, we hypothesized that fungi isolated from extreme environments such as a coal mine or the Eifel region in Germany, are exposed to levels of metal contamination similar to the moon and are thus suitable for biomining of lunar regolith. First screenings of isolates confirmed that among them some show promising results when it comes to leaching metals out of regolith. Some environmental isolates have been cultivated, taxonomically characterized and identified by sequencing of the ITS region as well as secondary marker such as calmodulin, actin, elongation factor 1α, β-tubulin and ribonuclease P protein subunit. Based on their taxonomic identity the most promising candidates were chosen for a first biomining approach, delivering a proof-of principle that among these isolates are suitable species for biomining. A. niger, A. carbonarius and P. simplicissimum were used as benchmark strains. The leaching efficiency was determined by semi quantitative methods followed by ICP-MS analysis. To implement a standardized screening procedure, the leachate of A. niger was analyzed every 24 hours for six days to determine its leaching dynamics and define a reference point for the evaluation of future biomining candidates. To further distinguish between biological and purely chemical leaching, abiotic leaching experiments using citric and oxalic acid were conducted.

By expanding the stock of biomining candidates beyond the known laboratory strains, these findings aid in creating sustainable strategies for microbial resource utilization in long duration lunar and planetary missions.

Reference:  Figueira et al. 2025 Biomining of lunar regolith simulant EAC-1 A with the fungus Penicillium simplicissimum - DOI: 10.1186/s40694-025-00201-z